Spartanburg civic leader Katie Hodge to be honored

Will receive lifetime achievement award

Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 10:23 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 10:23 p.m.

Photographs of Katie Hodge taken with world leaders and celebrities line the walls alongside honorary doctorate degrees bestowed on her and her late husband, but Hodge's greatest legacy are the medical institutions and programs she helped build.

Spartanburg woman honored

Katie Hodge will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Spartanburg Regional Foundation.

ALEX HICKS JR/alex.hicks@shj.com

A petite grandmother oozing with Southern charm, those whom have worked closely with her say she's a "stick of dynamite" and "a force of nature" for her fundraising and communication abilities. Collectively, Hodge has led fundraising campaigns that have netted millions in community building projects.

Hodge, an emeritus board member of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, will receive the foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award at the Society of 1921 Donor Appreciation Gala tonight. Mayor Junie White has also proclaimed today as "Katie Hodge Day" in Spartanburg.

"(Hodge) is great for the community, she's done outstanding work," White said. "Spartanburg would not be the same if she hadn't been here. She is a motivator and a go-getter."

On a recent tour of her home, Hodge proudly shows photos of she and her late husband, G.B. who was a thoracic and general surgeon, with former President George and Barbara Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the late U.S. Army General Norman Schwartzkopf.

"To think that all of these people came to Spartanburg, it brings back so many memories but they just didn't come here because we called them," Hodge explains. "We had to raise the money to get them here. People laugh because I always say asking people for money is a skill. You don't just call someone and ask them for $10,000. You sit down and explain how they can help the community and what their gift would mean and they usually understand. If they don't, I just stand up and thank them for their time and off I go."

Jo Ann McMillan was the first executive director for the foundation when it was formed in 1991 and Hodge was on the foundation's second board of trustees and served as the first female chairperson.

McMillan said Hodge was instrumental in raising $3.3 million for the Walter and Rose Montgomery tower at SRHS; $2 million for the Gibbs Cancer Center and $6 million for the Hospice House.

"She is a stick of dynamite," McMillan said. "She would always tell me to make the appointments and we would go visit donors and she is so delightful that she's able to tell people in such a kind and caring way the purpose and benefit of their gift."

Brenda James, the current chairwoman of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, said Hodge is a "wonderful ambassador for health care in the community."

"She is just a jewel," James said. "She's deeply devoted to this community and the people in it."

Hodge remembers when G.B. drove her to the old Spartanburg General Hospital after returning with him to Spartanburg, his hometown, after the two married. Hodge had earned her nursing degree from Duke University, where she and G.B. met.

"I remember it like it was yesterday," she said. "It was 1949 and we drove up and he looked at me and said, ‘this is where I'll work' and I looked at those rickety steps and that old building and said, ‘why would you work at this old place' and he told me they needed him and that was the end of that...Now look at Spartanburg Regional. It's certainly a campus we're all so proud of."

Through the years, Katie Hodge has adopted her husband's motto that "the patient always comes first," a lesson she learned right after they became engaged.

"G.B. told me from the start that his patients came first, always," she said. "I can remember sitting in ball gowns waiting by the phone for him to call and he would say that he was on his way, but I often fell asleep waiting because he never came. I feel like I'm carrying on his legacy now."

Hodge, who is also an artist, taught nursing for five years at Duke, and knew the benefits of treating the whole patient instead of just treating an illness was key to living a quality life, said current foundation executive director Sheila Breitweiser.

Breitweiser said Katie Hodge modeled Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System's Healing Arts program after a similar one at Duke. The program includes performing and visual arts at the Hospice Home, the hospital and there are now off-campus sites.

"What Katie has told us for as long as I've worked with her is that any treatment program must include creativity and the arts," Breitweiser said. "Katie has the amazing energy and persistence and raised the money and now we have an endowment fund in her honor to support the program."

For example, an artist at the Hospice House traces the hands of those at the end of their lives for the patient's family and children in the pediatric unit have access to art carts with crayons, paper and other art supplies. In the behavioral health unit, patients can participate in a drum line to help reduce stress. Art and music therapy are available for cancer patients.

"It is scientifically proven that arts help people relax so the healing process is enhanced," Breitweiser said. "Healing arts programs are common now throughout the United States, but Spartanburg was on the cutting edge because of Katie Hodge."

Hodge said when she sees a need, she finds a way to help.

"I was born with the inherent desire to help people," Hodge said. "That's why I became a nurse and that's what keeps me going now. When I finish one project, I just pick up another and I'll keep working and doing as long as I can help."

<p>Photographs of Katie Hodge taken with world leaders and celebrities line the walls alongside honorary doctorate degrees bestowed on her and her late husband, but Hodge's greatest legacy are the medical institutions and programs she helped build. </p><p>A petite grandmother oozing with Southern charm, those whom have worked closely with her say she's a "stick of dynamite" and "a force of nature" for her fundraising and communication abilities. Collectively, Hodge has led fundraising campaigns that have netted millions in community building projects.</p><p>Hodge, an emeritus board member of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, will receive the foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award at the Society of 1921 Donor Appreciation Gala tonight. Mayor Junie White has also proclaimed today as "Katie Hodge Day" in Spartanburg.</p><p>"(Hodge) is great for the community, she's done outstanding work," White said. "Spartanburg would not be the same if she hadn't been here. She is a motivator and a go-getter."</p><p>On a recent tour of her home, Hodge proudly shows photos of she and her late husband, G.B. who was a thoracic and general surgeon, with former President George and Barbara Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the late U.S. Army General Norman Schwartzkopf.</p><p>"To think that all of these people came to Spartanburg, it brings back so many memories but they just didn't come here because we called them," Hodge explains. "We had to raise the money to get them here. People laugh because I always say asking people for money is a skill. You don't just call someone and ask them for $10,000. You sit down and explain how they can help the community and what their gift would mean and they usually understand. If they don't, I just stand up and thank them for their time and off I go."</p><p>Jo Ann McMillan was the first executive director for the foundation when it was formed in 1991 and Hodge was on the foundation's second board of trustees and served as the first female chairperson.</p><p>McMillan said Hodge was instrumental in raising $3.3 million for the Walter and Rose Montgomery tower at SRHS; $2 million for the Gibbs Cancer Center and $6 million for the Hospice House. </p><p>"She is a stick of dynamite," McMillan said. "She would always tell me to make the appointments and we would go visit donors and she is so delightful that she's able to tell people in such a kind and caring way the purpose and benefit of their gift."</p><p>Brenda James, the current chairwoman of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, said Hodge is a "wonderful ambassador for health care in the community."</p><p>"She is just a jewel," James said. "She's deeply devoted to this community and the people in it."</p><p>Hodge remembers when G.B. drove her to the old Spartanburg General Hospital after returning with him to Spartanburg, his hometown, after the two married. Hodge had earned her nursing degree from Duke University, where she and G.B. met. </p><p>"I remember it like it was yesterday," she said. "It was 1949 and we drove up and he looked at me and said, 'this is where I'll work' and I looked at those rickety steps and that old building and said, 'why would you work at this old place' and he told me they needed him and that was the end of that...Now look at Spartanburg Regional. It's certainly a campus we're all so proud of." </p><p>Through the years, Katie Hodge has adopted her husband's motto that "the patient always comes first," a lesson she learned right after they became engaged. </p><p>"G.B. told me from the start that his patients came first, always," she said. "I can remember sitting in ball gowns waiting by the phone for him to call and he would say that he was on his way, but I often fell asleep waiting because he never came. I feel like I'm carrying on his legacy now."</p><p>Hodge, who is also an artist, taught nursing for five years at Duke, and knew the benefits of treating the whole patient instead of just treating an illness was key to living a quality life, said current foundation executive director Sheila Breitweiser.</p><p>Breitweiser said Katie Hodge modeled Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System's Healing Arts program after a similar one at Duke. The program includes performing and visual arts at the Hospice Home, the hospital and there are now off-campus sites. </p><p>"What Katie has told us for as long as I've worked with her is that any treatment program must include creativity and the arts," Breitweiser said. "Katie has the amazing energy and persistence and raised the money and now we have an endowment fund in her honor to support the program."</p><p>For example, an artist at the Hospice House traces the hands of those at the end of their lives for the patient's family and children in the pediatric unit have access to art carts with crayons, paper and other art supplies. In the behavioral health unit, patients can participate in a drum line to help reduce stress. Art and music therapy are available for cancer patients. </p><p>"It is scientifically proven that arts help people relax so the healing process is enhanced," Breitweiser said. "Healing arts programs are common now throughout the United States, but Spartanburg was on the cutting edge because of Katie Hodge."</p><p>Hodge said when she sees a need, she finds a way to help. </p><p>"I was born with the inherent desire to help people," Hodge said. "That's why I became a nurse and that's what keeps me going now. When I finish one project, I just pick up another and I'll keep working and doing as long as I can help."</p>